Stevie's harmonies

[ka10]

To me, Stevie's harmonies always sound so much different than other singers' (which is what I love about them!), and I was wondering if someone here knowledgeable about the technical aspects of music (David?) could enlighten us with a little analysis of her harmonic stylings. :) Does she sing in thirds? Fifths?

~Kat

[Alexbt]

Could you give a specific song so I can give an example?

[ka10]

Could you give a specific song so I can give an example?

Hmmm... well "Whenever I Call You Friend" and "Insider" (thanks to Amber's cool thread about the live version!) immediately come to mind.

~Kat

[ELIUD]

I love the harmonies on Rose Garden and Twisted - the soundtrack version which I like better than the Enchanted version.

[strandinthewind]

If you watch the making of Rumors DVD - during the part where LB is discussing Dreams - he plays the vocal of the chorus - He then explains that He and CM are singing the lead - presumably the first third - and that La nicks is singing what appears to be the fifth and the seventh - though I could have the exact parts wrong as LB and la Nicks sounded so similar in those days.

Also, in the outtakes from the Tusk doc. La Nicks is recording a buch of harmonies for Angel and it is pretty cool to watch, though CM and LB are pretty much jerks to here during it.

As for WICYF - I think I hear La Nicks is singing the high harmony (7th and 9th) during the chorus. It is hard for me to hear it because KL is doing a bunch himself.

Finally, someone posted a month or so ago a vocal only of Margnet and Steel, which should still be here if you look around for it. That vocal only reveals volumes about her harmony style.

Anyway - that is my $0.02.

[dissention]

Also, in the outtakes from the Tusk doc. La Nicks is recording a buch of harmonies for Angel and it is pretty cool to watch, though CM and LB are pretty much jerks to here during it.


You never give up the chance to bring that up. :D

[strandinthewind]

You never give up the chance to bring that up. :D

I know :wink:

But, its true and not some random critic who hates girlie chicks in rock :wavey: :laugh:

[johnny4406]

Also, in the outtakes from the Tusk doc. La Nicks is recording a buch of harmonies for Angel and it is pretty cool to watch, though CM and LB are pretty much jerks to here during it.

How were they jerks? Lindsey seemed helpful. They just always seemed to act like she was nuts, and in the end she offered plenty of hit songs.

But im curious as to why you said that.... :cool:

[strandinthewind]

How were they jerks? Lindsey seemed helpful. They just always seemed to act like she was nuts, and in the end she offered plenty of hit songs.

But im curious as to why you said that.... :cool:

One example to me was when La nicks was talking about the Angel sniglets she sang being the harmony Angels and CM is looking at the mixing board with, I believe a large glass of brandy or wine, and says in a condescending tone something like yea Stevie we get it - harmony Angels. She was being a bitch to these eyes. But, to each their own.

I mean if in the end she offered plenty of hit songs as you assert, you think they would have been a little nicer to her :shrug: I always thought that attitude they gave her was the reason she did Bella Donna. I mean who the hell would want to work with people who were condescending to you when you can sell four million + records on your own shrug:

[JazmenFlowers]

To me, Stevie harmonizes in a way most people do not. It is her rare voice that sings almost in disonance (sp?). Finding a key that is just below or above...I find it absolutely brilliant and gorgeous. For example, Sorcerer with Marilyn Martin - wow.

Stevie's harmonies are, to me, one of the best things about her voice.

[JazmenFlowers]

One example to me was when La nicks was talking about the Angel sniglets she sang being the harmony Angels and CM is looking at the mixing board with, I believe a large glass of brandy or wine, and says in a condescending tone something like yea Stevie we get it - harmony Angels. She was being a bitch to these eyes. But, to each their own.

I mean if in the end she offered plenty of hit songs as you assert, you think they would have been a little nicer to her :shrug: I always thought that attitude they gave her was the reason she did Bella Donna. I mean who the hell would want to work with people who were condescending to you when you can sell four million + records on your own shrug:

Lindsey also kind of, notice I said kind of, acts like she is a child when they are working on the harmonies for Angel. He asks her to sing the melody and when she starts he cuts her off and is like "that's not the melody" - she kind of giggles, but in that way where you giggle because you are embarassed. I wanted to transport back to 1979 and go through the TV on him. She seemed so alienated...alone and writing or drawing...making the coffee...but maybe that's how she wanted it, who knows?

[johnny4406]

Did they all work seperately during the making of TUSK?

[ELIUD]

..Stevie's harmonies are, to me, one of the best things about her voice.

I agree! And that became really apparent to me when Say You Will was released. Her lilting tones throughout the Lindsey songs are almost better than most of her lead vocals on her own songs. The video clip of her isolated in a booth laying down the harmony to Steal Your Heart Away is a perfect example of her ability to hit the high notes at whisper levels that are so beautiful.

[catinthedark]

I agree! And that became really apparent to me when Say You Will was released. Her lilting tones throughout the Lindsey songs are almost better than most of her lead vocals on her own songs. The video clip of her isolated in a booth laying down the harmony to Steal Your Heart Away is a perfect example of her ability to hit the high notes at whisper levels that are so beautiful.

I agree, too! And the addition of her harmonies to the old classic Never Going Back Again just completely transformed the song for me. There is definitely something unique and beautiful about the sound she creates when she harmonizes with Lindsey.

[ka10]

This is all fascinating. :) I'm so used to hearing 3rds and 5ths in pop music, that I never even would have thought of 7ths and 9ths!

It is her rare voice that sings almost in disonance (sp?). Finding a key that is just below or above...
Does she really do that? Sing in another key? If so, I shall deem her brilliant. :woohoo:

Stevie's harmonies are, to me, one of the best things about her voice.
Me, too. :nod:

~Kat

[JazmenFlowers]

This is all fascinating. :) I'm so used to hearing 3rds and 5ths in pop music, that I never even would have thought of 7ths and 9ths!


Does she really do that? Sing in another key? If so, I shall deem her brilliant. :woohoo:


Me, too. :nod:

~Kat

well, I'm no expert and that may not be the right term to use, but that's what I always "assumed"

...but you know what assuming does...

[danax6]

I agree! And that became really apparent to me when Say You Will was released. Her lilting tones throughout the Lindsey songs are almost better than most of her lead vocals on her own songs. The video clip of her isolated in a booth laying down the harmony to Steal Your Heart Away is a perfect example of her ability to hit the high notes at whisper levels that are so beautiful.And don't forget the

'Is the right harmony part on?'
'Yeah, it's the right harmony part on.'

That documentary is so interesting. :nod:

[LeighB04]

Lindsey also kind of, notice I said kind of, acts like she is a child when they are working on the harmonies for Angel. He asks her to sing the melody and when she starts he cuts her off and is like "that's not the melody" - she kind of giggles, but in that way where you giggle because you are embarassed. I wanted to transport back to 1979 and go through the TV on him. She seemed so alienated...alone and writing or drawing...making the coffee...but maybe that's how she wanted it, who knows?

I think a lot of her problems with CM and LB stem from them being trained musicians, whereas she sings from instinct. It can make communicating in a studio setting really difficult: "Stevie, sing in C" and Stevie doesn't know what C is.... that would cause frustration which I have no doubt got aired during the months and months of recording FM would do. When you're living in such close proximity day after day, month after month, and trying to work with a person who can't do what you need them to do, I can imagine quite a few snarky comments came out...

[JazmenFlowers]

I think a lot of her problems with CM and LB stem from them being trained musicians, whereas she sings from instinct. It can make communicating in a studio setting really difficult: "Stevie, sing in C" and Stevie doesn't know what C is.... that would cause frustration which I have no doubt got aired during the months and months of recording FM would do. When you're living in such close proximity day after day, month after month, and trying to work with a person who can't do what you need them to do, I can imagine quite a few snarky comments came out...

true - point taken

[David]

To me, Stevie's harmonies always sound so much different than other singers' (which is what I love about them!), and I was wondering if someone here knowledgeable about the technical aspects of music (David?) could enlighten us with a little analysis of her harmonic stylings. :) Does she sing in thirds? Fifths? Yes, you're right. Obviously I can't & don't want to go through every song she's ever sung & plot out the harmonic intervals, but if I had to generalize about her harmony singing I'd say it's standard thirds & fifths (& even an occasional fourth for transitional purposes -- very few harmonies are ever completely all thirds or anything else). Stevie does what everybody does who needs to put a harmony on a pop song.

If she sounds different to you from others, maybe that's owing to her timbre, which is as we all know distinctive. Timbre & other vocal qualities (where you have the same pitch) can make you think you're hearing different tones or other sonic qualities. Stevie's voice box is just built for that kind of Appalachian-Americana harmony sound that you can hear in the Carter Family & "roots" music like that. Back in the days when Stevie used to sing a third above the melody line of the chorus of "Dreams," she made that sound like the melody line almost, & if Chris was covering the actual melody line, it generally got buried waaaay under Stevie -- again, because of her style & timbre.

[UndoingTheLaces]

One example to me was when La nicks was talking about the Angel sniglets she sang being the harmony Angels and CM is looking at the mixing board with, I believe a large glass of brandy or wine, and says in a condescending tone something like yea Stevie we get it - harmony Angels. She was being a bitch to these eyes. But, to each their own.

Does anyone know where I can get ahold of the Tusk Doc and outtakes. Seriously, I taught myself how to sing harmonies watching the Angel segment and I no longer have my copy. Plus, I've never seen the outtakes and would just love to.

[strandinthewind]

Does anyone know where I can get ahold of the Tusk Doc and outtakes. Seriously, I taught myself how to sing harmonies watching the Angel segment and I no longer have my copy. Plus, I've never seen the outtakes and would just love to.

I lost mine a long time ago in a comp. crash. Sorry :cool:

[strandinthewind]

Yes, you're right. Obviously I can't & don't want to go through every song she's ever sung & plot out the harmonic intervals, but if I had to generalize about her harmony singing I'd say it's standard thirds & fifths (& even an occasional fourth for transitional purposes -- very few harmonies are ever completely all thirds or anything else). Stevie does what everybody does who needs to put a harmony on a pop song.

If she sounds different to you from others, maybe that's owing to her timbre, which is as we all know distinctive. Timbre & other vocal qualities (where you have the same pitch) can make you think you're hearing different tones or other sonic qualities. Stevie's voice box is just built for that kind of Appalachian-Americana harmony sound that you can hear in the Carter Family & "roots" music like that. Back in the days when Stevie used to sing a third above the melody line of the chorus of "Dreams," she made that sound like the melody line almost, & if Chris was covering the actual melody line, it generally got buried waaaay under Stevie -- again, because of her style & timbre.

I agree. I also think in the 70's and early 80's La Nicks had a very similar voice, when she wanted to, to Dolly Parton. The early demo of Designs of Love made me think that.

Interestingly, in her solo stuff, she was forced to sing melody on stage (though Sharona certainly helped more than once) - the effect was interesting to say the least. I often wonder if that at first frightened her - it would have frightened me a little to sing Dreams one way for three years and then another for BD.

In the end, she is very clever in the way she uses her voice in harmony even though I may not care for the result.

Also, she does this sort of inverse harmony thing I cannot think of the name of. The Goldfish and the Ladybug is a good example of it.